Email History: URGENT: Information provided by USCIS in PAP does not match this morning's concall

... And this is the email that I sent out later that afternoon, after the experience that Chareyl had at the US Embassy in PAP.

This was a pretty discouraging moment for both Chareyl and me.  Chareyl had been able to get a phone connection and listen to the bulk of the conference call that morning.  Everything sounded like it was going to be moving along well, all departments were working together in the same manner, with clear communication.  It really sounded like progress would be forthcoming and we'd be able to be done with this process SOON.

Then Chareyl went to the Embassy for her scheduled appointment.  What happened follows:

All,

I am on the phone right now with Chareyl Moyes who is standing AT THE EMBASSY.  We submitted all the paperwork for all 70 orphans to the USCIS in PAP on Friday.

Chareyl was just told by Marie Breme (who is the very sweet woman who is standing at the USCIS counter) that she is not allowed to approve humanitarian parole for any children without the PAPERWORK from IBESR or an MOI number.

She said that her office in  Haiti is not allowed approve HP for any of those children.  Her office has been directed to send any files that do not have an MOI number or IBESR paperwork to WASHINGTON DC/USCIS/DHS for review and approval by someone in Washington.

Then the file will go BACK to their office and then they can issue the HP. 

AND THEN once those two steps are done, she still can't give the HP because the Haitian government has still not decided how they are going to document or approve the files.

She showed Chareyl the printed memo telling Marie and her associates by their management that explained that the rules changed as of Sunday. 

THIS IS COMING FROM YOUR OWN EMPLOYEES.

Chareyl (who is still on the phone) just said that Marie just announced this very thing over the loudspeaker to everyone standing in the lines.

She told Chareyl that she had been working on our files.  Marie has mentioned several times that our paperwork was "perfect" and "met all the criteria", but she's not ALLOWED to approve anyone.

Do I need to remind anyone on this email that IBESR is in rubble?

This is compeltely contradictory to what we were all told on the call this morning (and Chareyl was on that call as well).   You complained that there are rumors and false stories going around but within your own departments you cannot get your story straight.

We need these departments to collaborate.  If these new steps Marie is being told to follow are correct and these files have to go to WASHINGTON for approval.....

I want to remind you, respectfully, that our orphanage was destroyed.   Our children are living in a courtyard with 200 other orphans.  Chareyl is staying at the orphanage with these children.  We have 70 children and we even have a humanitarian flight lined up that can get them out of the country.  The orphanage is running out of supplies.  They won't have food and water soon.

Our parents are all approved US Citizens who have been through the background checks, homestudys, and other investigations both governments required.  Why is our government continuing to penalize the children and the families?

This is unacceptable! 

I am copying some Senators and Congressmen that have tried to help us. 

We have tried to play by the rules but if the rules of engagement change every hour, how can anyone be successful? 

Lori Rosenlof

Hope for Little Angels of Haiti